[Allergic and serologic diagnosis of paratuberculosis in cattle]

The use of allergenodiagnosis in cattle herds where paratuberculosis is to be eradicated depends on the allergenogenic properties of the causative agent of this disease. An evaluation of the reliability of an intradermal allergic test performed to diagnose paratuberculosis in cattle in the given area revealed that this method is important especially if the result of this test is explicitly negative. A cultivation proof of the causative agent of paratuberculosis is of greatest importance among bacteriological methods for infection diagnosis. The agreement of the bacteriological and serological examination which reached 80% in young cattle pointed out the high specificity of an indirect haemagglutination test. In cows, unlike calves and heifers, the specificity of diagnostic tests was considerably lower. It is recommended to use an elimination method mainly in young cattle: regular examinations of calves from their age of three months will help to form a group of heifers free of infection, observing the basic infection controlling measures and providing conventient diet.